Electric lantern



May 13, 1947. c. E. woHLER ET AL 2,420,634

ELECTRIC LANTERN Filed June 14, 1944 El l Patented May 13, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LANTERN Charles E. Wohler and Lewis G. Sherwood, Niagara Falls, N. Y., assignors to Niagara Searchlight Company, Inc., Niagara Falls,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric lantern, and more particularly to a portable electric lantern including two large sized cylindrical dry cells as the source of current and a relatively large electric light bulb and reliector, the electric lantern thereby being a comparatively large and heavy duty portable lantern capable of projecting a broad and intense beam of light for a long period without replacement of the dry cells.

One of the principal objects is to facilitate the use of the lantern in turning it on and off, this being achieved by mounting the switch directly on the grip of the bail by which the lantern is carried.

Another object is to provide such a switch which is in the form of a simple sliding switch including a ngerpiece which projects upwardly from the grip of the bail and which need only -be slid forwardly to establish the electrical circuit and retracted to break this circuit.

Another purpose is to provide such a heavy duty electric lantern in which a broken circuit is not liable to occur from causes other than opening the switch. In particular the switch is grounded on the handle which is in turn rigidly secured with good electrical connection to the main body of the lantern and which provides the grounded side of the line. In lanterns where the switch is grounded on the cover, it frequently happens that the electrical connection between the cover and the main casing which forms the grounded side of the line fails thereby rendering the electric lantern inoperative.

Another object is to provide a simple and secure positive connecting line between the switch and the positive side of the battery, this positive line being secured in position by the same fastening members which secure the bail to the main body or casing of the electric lantern.

Another object is to provide such an electric lantern which is neat and attractive in appearance and in which, in particular, the positive line, while exposed, does not detract from the appearance of the lantern.

Another object is to provide such an electric lantern having an exposed positive line extending along one side of the bail in which the bail is so formed as to protect the positive line from injury and possible short circuting.

Other objects are to provide a compact, portable, heavy duty electric lantern which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use without getting out of order or requiring repair.

(Cl. 24U-10.63)

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portable heavy duty electric lantern embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with a part of the bail and an adjacent part of the casing or body broken away to disclose the construction thereof, the switch being shown in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig, 2 and showing the switch in its closed position.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary vertical sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the electric lantern.

The portable heavy duty electric lantern embodying the present invention is shown as having a main body or casing 5 which is made of sheet metal to form the grounded side of the line. This main body or casing can be of any suitable construction and is shown as being generally rectangular in horizontal section to contain two upright standard cylindrical dry cells 6, which form the battery for the lantern, and as having a base 8 and a cover 9 removably closing its open upper end. On the front wall of the main body or casing the rim I0 of a reflector II is shown a's secured, the electric light bulb I2 being secured at the center of the reflector II in the usual manner so as to project a beam of light forwardly.

'Ihe electric lantern is carried by a bail or handle indicated generally at I5 and Which is shown as made of sheet metal. This bail or handle includes a tubular grip I6 which extends fore-andaft and has open front and rear ends, and has a rearwardly bowing rear leg I8 the lower part I9 of which is forwardy offset and attached to the rear Wall of the casing or body immediately under the cover 9 by rivets 20 or in any other suitable manner. The front leg 2l bows or curves forwardly from the front end of the grip Iii and then curves downwardly and rearwardly and isbroadened, as indicated in Fig. 1 to join an elongated, rearwardly oflset attaching portion 22 which is attached to the exterior of the front wall of the casing or body 5 by rivets 23 or in any other suitable manner. i

It will be noted that the sides of the tubular grip I6 are continued forwardly to form side lianges 24 along the front leg 2l of the bail. The rear leg I8 is provided with similar rearwardly projecting side flanges 25, 'Ihese lianges not only strengthen these legs but-in the case of the front leg 2| provide a channel 26 to receive and protect the positive side of the line leading to the switch in the grip Io as hereinafter described.

Extending through the front wall of the main body or casing is a metal grommet or eyelet 28 which is insulated from the body or casing 5 by a ber bushing 29 or the like. The peened-over rear end of this grommet secures the terminal of a wire 35 in electrical connection with this grommet, the other end of this wire 30 being secured to the positive side of the battery 6. Agaitnst the other or outside end of the grommet 28 is pressed the lower end of the positive wire 3| leading to the switch. This wiire is in the form of a flat strip of electrically conductive metal coated with enamel to insulate the strip. At its contact with the outer end of the grommet 28 this enamel is, of course, scraped off, and this bare surface is rmly held in contact with the grommet by the pressure of the attaching portion 22 of the lbail and its rivets 23.

This positive wire extends upwardly along the rear side of the iront leg 2| of the bail to the start of its forwardly bowed part where it passes through a slot 33 in this leg 2| and into the forwardly facing channel 2|;Y provided in the leg 2| by the side flanges 2 4 thereof. It will be noted that the fact that this enameled wire strip passes through the slit 33 prevents its lower end from accidentally being pulled out of contact with the grommet 28.

The upper end of the enameled wire strip 3| enters the front end of the tubular grip I8 and extends'along the bottom thereof. At its upper extremity itsupper surface is scraped free from enamel to provide electrical Contact between it and a spring contact 35, the enamel insulating the other parts of this wire 3| from the grip I6. This spring contact is arranged in a longitudinal groove 38 provided in the underside of a cylindrical body 38 of insulating material, this cylindrical body forming the body of the switch. This cylindrical body 38 is provided on its upper side with a broad longitudinally extending groove 39 at the base of which a narrower longitudinally extending groove 40 is provided.

At theV front ends of the longitudinal grooves 3S and 40 a rivet 4| extends through the intervening material of the switch body, the lower head of this rivet securing the forward end of the spring contact 35, the rear end of whichpermanently engages the bare surface of thepositive wire 3|. The upper head of this rivet 4| secures the forward end of the movable contactV 42 of Y the switch, this movable contact, being in the form of a leaf spring extending longitudinally along the narrow groove 40 and having an upwardlyoffset corrugation 43 at its center and a downwardly bent rear end 44. This downwardly bent rear end i4 is arranged to engage the upper head of a rivet 45 which forms the stationary contact for the switch, this rivet extending vertically through Ithe portion of the switch body 38` between the rear ends of the longitudinal grooves 38 and 48. The lower head of this rivet 45 secures the forward end of a spring latch member 46, the rear` end of which is formed to provide a finger entering a slit 48 in the bottom of the tubular grip I6 and holding the tubular body 38 of the switch against axial displacement in the tubular grip. Upon pressing this linger upwardly out of the slit 48, by a knife bladeror screwdriver, it will be seen that the entire switch body 38 can be withdrawn forwardly from the open front end of the grip IS. Y

A slider 55 of insulating material is fitted in the wide upper longitudinal groove 39 of the switch body 38, the upper side of this slider being curved to t the underside of the top wall of the tubular grip I6. This slider 50 has a ngerpiece 5| which extends upwardly through a longitudinal slot 52 extending rearwardly from the forward edge of the tubular grip |6. It will be seen that through the ngerpiece 5| the slider 50 can be moved forwardly, this movement being limited by a stop 53 provided at the forward extremity of the groove 39 and arranged in a recess 54 provided in the underside and at the forward end of the slider 50. In this position of the slider the upwardly offset corrugation 43 of the movable contact 42 enters. a similarly shaped recess 55 provided in the underside of the slider 50 and this permits the rear end of the movable contact 42 to spring upwardly out of engagement With the stationary contact 45 and thereby break the circuit.

One terminal of the electric light bulb |2 is connected by al line 56 to the negative terminal of the battery 5, the other terminal of the'electric light bulb being grounded on the main body 5 of the lantern in the usual manner.

In operation, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, a circuit is established from the positive side of the battery 6, wire 30, grommet or eyelet 23, enameled wire strip 32| which has a bare lower end held against the grommet 28- by the front leg 23l of the bail, spring contact 35, rivet 4|, movable switch contact 42, fixed switch contact or rivet 45', and latch member 46 to ground provided by the bail riveted to the main body or casing 5. From the groundedy side of the electric light bulb |2 the circuit continues through this electric light bulb and the wire 55 to the negative side of the battery 8.

When the user moves the ngerpiece 5| and slider 58 rearwardly, the corrugation or rounding offset 43 of the movable switch Contact 42 enters the recess 55 of the slider, this contact 42 thereby springing out of Contact with the fixed switch contact or rivet 45 and breaking the circuit. The interengagement of the ridge or corrugation 43 of the movable switch contact 42 with the recess 55 of the slider, tends to keep the switch open. Further, it will be seen that the fingerpiece 5| of the switch is located where the thumb of the person carrying the lantern is naturally located and that the switch grounds directly on the bail which in turn is securely riveted to the main body and ground 5 of the lantern. It will be noted also that the entire switch can readily be removed by inserting a knife blade or screwdriver in the slot 43V to lift the latch finger of the latch 46, this permitting the body 38 and slider 58 to be removed directly from the tubular grip I8 of the bail. At the same time the slider, in normal use, is limited in its movement to on and off positions by the stop 53 and the rear end of the slot 52.

The lantern embodying the invention thereby provides a compact and attractive heavy duty lantern in which the switch is located at the most advantageous position and at the same time grounds directly on a bail which is unitary with the main body sol that a failure of the circuit is not likely to occur. Further, the switch is ruggedv and' readily assembled and removed and the entire lantern can be made at low cost.

We claim as our invention:

l. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing, a metal bail forming withv said casing theV `grounded side of a circuit and having a hand grip and a pair of legs extending downwardly from said grip alongside saidcasing, means securing each of said legs to said casing, a metal member .extending through the wall of said casing and insulated therefrom, said metal member being` arranged under one of said legs, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing and having one terminal grounded thereon, a battery in said casing and having one terminal connected with the other terminal of said electric light bulb and its other terminal connected with said metal member, a manual switch mounted on said hand grip and havin-g one terminal grounded thereon, and a line extending along said one'of said legs and connecting the other terminal of said switch with said metal member, said line being interposed between said one of said legs and said metal member and being held in electrical contact with said metal member solely by the pressure of said one of said legs.

2. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing, a metal bail forming with said casing the grounded side of a circuit and having a hand grip and a pair of legs extending downwardly from said grip alongside said casing, means securing each of said legs to said casing, a metal member extending through the wall of said casing and insulated therefrom, said metal member being arranged under one of said legs, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing and having one terminal grounded thereon, a battery in said casing and having one terminal connected with the other terminal of said electric light bulb and its other terminal connected with said metal member, a manual switch mounted on said hand grip and having one terminal grounded thereon, and a line extending along said one of said legs and connecting the other terminal of said switch with said metal member, said line extending down the outer side of said one of said legs, through a hole in a central part thereof, and thereafter down the inner side of said one of said legs to engagement with said metal member and being held in electrical contact with said metal member solely by the pressure of said one of said legs.

3. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing, a metal bail secured to said casing and forming with said casing the grounded side of the circuit, said bail being formed to provide a tubular .grip portion open at one end, an elongated switch body of dielectric material conforming to and fitted coaxially in said tubular grip portion, a metal latch member secured to said switch body and extending into an opening provided in said grip portion to removably secure said switch body in said grip portion, said latch member being in electrical Contact with said grip portion, a movable contact on said switch body and movable into electrical contact with said latch member, means for manually moving said movable contact, and means connecting said movable contact in circuit with said electric light bulb and battery.

4. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing, a metal bail secured to said casing and forming with said casing the grounded side of the circuit, said bail being formed to provide a tubular grip portion open at one end, an elongated switch body of dielectric material conforming to and tted axially in said tubular grip portion, said switch body being provided with an axial groove, a slider movably tted in said groove and manually movable lengthwise thereof, saidswitchlbody being provided with a second axially extending groove at the base of said first groove and of narrower width, a movable contact in said second groove and projecting into said first groove to be moved by said slider into engagement with a grounded part, and means connecting said movable contact in circuit with said electric light bulb and battery.

5. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing, a metal bail secured to said casing and forming with said casing the grounded side of the circuit, said bailbeing formed to provide a tubular grip portion open at one end, an elongated switch body of dielectric material conforming to and fitted axially in said tubular grip portion, said switch body being provided with an axial groove, a slider movably fitted in said groove and manually movable lengthwise thereof, said switch body being provided with a second axially extending groove at the base of said flrst groove and of narrower width, a movable contact in said second groove and projecting into said iirst groove to be moved by said slider into engagement with a grounded part, and means connecting said movable contact in circuit with said electric light bulb and battery, said movable contact and slider being provided with a projection Y and recess arranged to interengage in the open position of the switch to act as a detent means in holding said switch open.

6. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing, a metal bail secured to said casing and forming with said casing the grounded side of the circuit, said bail being formed to provide a tubular grip portion open at one end, an elongated switch body of dielectric material conforming to and fitted axially in said tubular grip portion, said switch body being provided with an axial groove, a slider movably fitted in said groove and manually movable lengthwise thereof, a flngerpiece projecting outwardly from said slider'through a slot in said grip portion extending inwardly from the open end thereof, a stop on said switch body and limiting the movement of said slider toward said open end of said grip portion, a movable contact on said switch body and arranged in the path of said slider to be moved thereby into engagement with a grounded part, and means connecting said movable contact in circuit with said electric light bulb and battery.

'7. An electric lantern, comprising a metal casing adapted to contain a battery, an electric light bulb mounted on said casing, a metal bail secured to said casing and forming with said casing the grounded side of the circuit, said bail being formed to provide a tubular grip portion open at one end, an elongated switch body of dielectric material conforming to and tted axially in said tubular grip portion, said switch body being provided with an axial groove, a slider movably tted in said groove and manually movable lengthwise thereof, said switch body, being provided with a second axially extending groove at the base of said rst groove and of narrower width and said switch body being provided with a third axially extending groove on its sde opposite said rst groove, a spring contact in said third groove, a movable switch contact in said second groove, a rivet extending through the corresponding ends of said contacts and securing them to said switch body and establishing an electrical connection therebetween, the free end of said movable switch contact being arrangedinthek path ofV said slider.V

toV be moved thereby into engagement with a groundedpart, and-la Wire interposed between said switch` body and. tubulargrip portionlandl in electrical contact with said spring contact and in cireuitwith' said electric light bulb andl battery.

CHARLES E. WOH'LER. LEWIS G. SHERWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 'UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Haack July 5, 1921 Comer Aug. 12, 1924 Hicks Jan. 15, 1929 Stimson May 18, 1937 Kurlander June 17, 1941 Hulst Oct. 21, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date` Great Britain Feb, 10, 1919 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1939 

